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A retired accountant says Primary Health Organisations have become overly corporatised and top-heavy, taking too much of the health spend compared to GP's.
Murray Lilley has used publicly available records to compare some of the biggest PHO's - ProCure, Pinnacle, Pegasus and Tu Ora Compass, and a couple of smaller ones - on how they were managing and distributing government funding.
He found the PHO share of government funding for primary health had increased by 70% over pre-Covid levels, reducing the share available for GPs.
Murray Lilley also points to an increase in the size and operating costs of PHOs and the number of staff now being paid over $100,000 dollars a year.
His report was sent to the office of the Health Minister - Simeon Brown - but has also been leaked and sent to many GP practices.
Christchurch GP Dr Angus Chambers, who is also the chair of GenPro - the organisation that represents independent GPs, says his sector shares Mr Lilley's concerns.
Dr Bryan Betty - who chairs GPNZ, which represents the Primary Health Organisations, responds, saying the report is piecemeal and inaccurate.